Typewriting machines – Key-board or key lever-actuating mechanism – Key-board including keys grouped to facilitate positioning...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-20
2001-06-05
Hilten, John S. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Key-board or key lever-actuating mechanism
Key-board including keys grouped to facilitate positioning...
C400S486000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241406
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a computer keyboard, and in particular to a computer keyboard which is convenient to operate at high speeds.
2. Description of the Related Art
The current computer keyboard is derived from the keyboard of an English typewriter, the keys of which are distributed such that the letter keys are located in the middle, while the numeric keys, function keys and symbolic keys are arranged around the letter keys. Due to the close correlation between the computer keyboard and the typewriter keyboard, people often overlook the drawbacks of the various current computer keyboards, i.e. the so called standard keyboards in respect to the distribution of the keys. For instance, the letter keys are too concentrated, there are two sets of numeric keys and the locations of the two sets are not in equilibrium, and the function keys and symbolic keys are also irregularly arranged. Therefore, it is not easy for an operator to remember the locations of the keys, and typing errors tend to occur upon inputting information and instructions. Consequently, it is necessary to rearrange the locations of the keys of a conventional keyboard.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a keyboard, the keys of which are distributed to conform with the equilibrium characteristics of the human brain, the arrangement of the various keys makes it easy for the operator to remember the locations of the keys, and input operations can be carried out faster and more accurately.
To achieve the object of the invention, there is provided a computer keyboard having a left side, a right side, and a middle portion. The keyboard is operably connected to a computer for inputting information and instructions, and comprises at least one numerical key arranged in the middle portion of the key board for inputting numerical information, and a plurality of letter keys separated by the at least one numerical key into first and second sets respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the keyboard. According to the invention, the letter keys are arranged in the same order as those on a conventional keyboard, but various changes have been made to the locations of the letter keys and the locations of other function keys. For example, the location of the symbolic keys has been changed so as to conform with the left-right equilibrium characteristics of human brain, facilitate operation of the keyboard itself, and save space.
Several exemplary advantages of the keyboard of the invention lie in that: its function is the same as that of a conventional keyboard; since the keys are left-right symmetrically arranged and the numeric keys are located at the middle part, the keyboard of the invention enables the operator to operate in a balanced fashion; and it is very convenient to input English alphabets, Chinese characters, numerals and symbols. The keyboard of the invention is an improvement on the conventional keyboard in respect of the arrangement of the keys, it can speed up input, decrease the typing errors, and reduce the size of the keyboard.
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Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Hilten John S.
Nguyen Anthony H.
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